Cotton-picking machine.



No. 63|,373. Patented Aug. 22, i899..

C. J. LUCE.

COTTO'N PICKING MACHINE.

Application filed June 27, 1898.-

No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l,

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COTTON PICKING MACHINE.

(Application med June 27, 139s.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sh'ee'v 2 lvm' M"w/NEssEs i UWE/v70@ Afro/msn PATENT FFICE.

CHARLES J. LUCE, OF NIANTIC, CONNECTICUT.

COTTON-PICKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 631,373, dated August22, 1899.

I Application filed Tune 27, 1898. Serial No. 684,598. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. LUCE, acitizen of the United States,residing at Niantic, in the county of New London and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCotton-Picking Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description.

The object of this invention is to provide a light and portable` machineof simple construction for use in the operation of cottonpicking whichshall automatically collect the cotton picked by several pickers anddeposit it in a receptacle common to them all, said machine beingcapable of being moved from place to place as often as the cotton in agiven locality is gathered.

Briefly described, my machine embodies, in connection with thereceptacle just mentioned, several pipes leading thereinto, the oppositeends of which pipes are each connected by means of a flexible sectionwith an individual receptacle provided for the picker, into which saidpicker deposits the cotton as fast as it is picked. In connection withthe above a blower is provided, whereby the cotton placed in the saidindividual receptacles is drawn pneumatically therefrom through thepipes mentioned and into the said main receptacle. The construction ofmy machine is such that it is not necessary to provide a blower ofsuflicient capacity to force a current of air simultaneously through thesaid several pipes, as but one of said pipes is in loperative connectionwithA the blower at any one time. By means of suitable mechanismembodied in my machine I make it possible to transfersaid current veryrapidly and in turn to each of said pipes, providing thereby apractically continuous current for them all.

' small and light blower, requiring but little I thus make it possibleto use a,

I-Iaving now described in a general way the construction and operationof my machine, I will proceed to give a more detailed descriptionthereof in connection with the accompanying drawings, which serve toillustrate the same, as follows:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my newlyinvented machine, showing thesame suitably mounted upon a sled or drag. Fig. 2 shows largely incentral vertical section the upper portion of my machine. Fig. 3 is ahorizontal sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a planview of the upper portion of my machine. Fig. 5 shows in elevation andcentral section the blower and connected parts.

Referring to the drawings, the referencenumber lO denotesa sled ordragupon which my newly-invented machine is mounted, said sled being drawnusually by means of ahorse or mule secured to the hook lO at the frontend'of said sled. a

A portion of the mechanism of my machine s supported in a metallicframework, consisting of three superimposed disks 1l,- 12, and 13, whosecenters are in vertical alinement, which said disks are secured togetherby vertical rods let, arranged concentric to the vertical central lineof said disks,thereby forming a device very similar to a trundle orlantern, as will be clearly understood by reference to the drawings. Theframework j ust described is supported by four posts 15, whose lowerends are secured in sockets or bosses 16, located on the sled lO, andwhose upper ends are secured to the disk 13. It will now be seen thatthe framework described provides a skeleton tower, which is preferablystiffened by means of bracesl?, secured at their lower ends to the sled10 and at their upper ends to the disk 1l. The disks `ll, l2, 'and I3have each cut therethrough, near their peripheries and concentric totheir centers, a ring of circular holes ll', 12', and 13', respectively,(shown in the drawings as seven in number,) and the centers of whichsaid holes of each disk arein vertical alinement with the correspondingholes of the companion disks. The disks 13 and l2 have located betweenthem a ring of cones 18, formed, preferably, of thin sheet metal, theupper (smaller) end of each of which cones is received in a hole 12' ofdisk 12 and the lower (larger) end in a hole 13' of disk 13.

I have already mentioned certain pipes through which the cotton is drawnfrom the individual receptacles of the pickers and transferred to themain receptacle of the machine. One of such pipesis provided inconnection with each cone 18, said pipes being preferably arranged intwo sets of three each, such sets being located on opposite sides of themachine and adapted to extend at right angles thereto in oppositedirections, the said pipes of each set being of different lengths inorder that points at varyingdistances from the machine may be reached bythe pickers. In addition to the two sets of pipes just mentioned asimilar pipe is also provided, leading from the central line of themachine overand to point in advance of the mule, whichdraws the completemachine. The last-named of said pipes I have denoted by thereferencenumber19, while those of each set are denoted, respectively, byreferencenumbers 20,21, and 22. The pipes 19, 20, 21, and 22 areswiveled intheir respective cones and extend thence upward through theplate 11. They are then bent outward away from the machine in varyingdirections.

Formed near the lower end of each of the above-mentioned pipes is anannular ange 23, adapted to engage the upper face of disk 11 when thepipe end has entered the smaller upper end of the cone 18, said flangeforming a broad support for the said pipes.

The described arrangement of pipes, disks, and cones serves to supportthe pipes in vertical positions, but allows them to be freely rotatedand adjusted within the disks in order that they may follow themovements of the several pickers.

To insure a tight joint between the ends of pipe portions 19 and theupper smaller ends of the cones 18, a washer 23', of rubber or the likematerial, may, if necessary, be placed around pipe portions 19 justbefore their insertion into the said cones.

The pipes 19, 20, 21, and 22 are connected by means of flexible pipes 24to the individual receptacles 25 of the pickers. Said receptacles 25 arepreferably Haring, as shown in Fig. 1, and are provided with theinwardlycurved portion 25', adapted to conform to the shape of the body.They are also provided with straps 26, whereby said receptacles aresecured to the pickers, preferably at about the elevation of the hips,so that the mouth of the receptacle may not be closed by reason of thestooping of the picker, as would be the case should said receptacle besecured around the waist.

The main receptacle of my device, to which reference has heretofore beenmade,is denoted by the reference-number 27 and is preferably eylindricalin shape and formed of sheet meta-l. Said receptacle is located directlybeneath the disk 13, is secured thereto in any suitable manner, and isof suiicient siz'e to surround the lower ends of the entire series ofcones 18.

It will now be readily seen that if a current of air be drawn or forcedthrough the connecting-pipes into the main receptacle 27 any cottonplaced in the individual receptacles 25 will be carried through saidpipes into the receptacle 27, which is common to all of the pipes. Tocollect the cotton gathered bythe several pickers, I provide such acurrent of air; but to avoid the necessity of providing a separatecurrent for each individual recepta= cle, which plan if followed wouldnecessitate a very powerful blower, I have made it possible to utilize ablower of sufficient capacity for a single pipe only, and by certainnovel mechanism I transfer such current from pipe to pipe in rapidsuccession, thus providinga practically continuous current for all ofthe pipes.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2, and 5 of the drawings, the reference-number28 denotes a blower of any practical construction, and 29 indicates avertical tubular shaft mounted on said blower and journaled at its upperend in the center of disk 13. Thelowerend of the tubularshaft29isjournaled in the upper portion of the blower-case by means of thewell-known liquid-joint or by any other means that will permit therotation of said shaft and at the same time provide an air-tight joint.Shaft 29 passes through the bottom of the receptacle 27 and bears on itsupper end a fitting 29', and leading from said fitting 29' within reAceptacle 27 is a branch pipe 30, bearing an elbow 30', whose upper endis parallel with and directly beneath the lower face of the disk 13. Thecenter of said upper cud is in vertical alinement with the said verticalcentral line of the cones 18.

Located on the tubular shaft 29, somewhat above the blower 28, is abevel-gear 3l, meshing with a companion bevel-gear 32, whose shaft 32'is journaled in a stand 33, secured to the upper portion of theblower-case 28, which shaft 32' also bears a sprocket 34.

The meshing gears (denoted by referencenumbers 35 3(5) form a portion ofthe driving mechanism of the blower, the latter serving to drive theformer, which said gear 35 is mounted upon the projecting end of thejournal 35' of the fan-blower. Mounted upon the journal 3G' of gear 3Gis sprocket 37.

Reference number 38 denotes a stand mounted on sled 10, having journaledin its upper port-ion a shaft 39, on which are mounted sprockets 40 and41 in line, respectively, with sprockets 34 and 37 and each serving todrive the sprocket with which it is in alinement by means ofsprocket-chains 40' ar d 41', respectively. Shaft 39 is rotated by meansof a handle 42 or by any other suitable means.

It will now be readily understood from the above description and fromthe drawings that when shaft 39 is set in revolution it sets inoperation the fans of the blower and also IOO IIO

causes the tubular shaft 29 torevolve. When the blower is set inoperation, it induces a current of air downward through the tubularshaft 29, and it will now be understood that when the open end of thearm 30 of the tubular shaft 29 is in alinement with any one of the cones18 said current of air will draw the cotton from the individualreceptacle at the end of the pipe leading from said cone, and, as shaft29 is in cons-tant revolution, it will also be seen that said current ofair will be continually transferred from cone to cone and the cottonwill be removedfrom the several receptacles 25 in succession.

To prevent the. cotton carried by the current of air from being drawndownward through shaft 29 and into the blower, I have secured to theabove mentioned upper end of the elbow 30 a plate 43, overlapping saidelbow sufficient-1y to close not only the lower end of the cone withwhich said elbow may be in alinement, but also the cone on either sidethereof, as will be understood by reference to Fig. 3, in which thepositions of the cones 18 are denoted by dotted circles. That portion ofthe plate 43 directly over the elbow 30 is perforated to prevent the.entrance of cotton into the elbow and to allow the free'passage of thecurrent of air through said plate 43. It will now be seen that when thecotton is drawn into the cones 1S it will remain therein until plate 43has revolved from beneath the lower end of the cone through which thecotton was drawn, when the cotton will drop into the receptacle 27 Atthe front side of To catch the cotton as it is swept out of thereceptacle 27, I hang a bag beneath said opening.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In combination, acircular receiver, a multiple of pipes leading into said receiver, saidpipes being arranged concentrically around the center of the receiver, asuctionblower, a pipe leading from said blower into the receiver andhaving its end offset to reg ister with the said pipes, and means formoving said offset pipe into successive engagement with the said pipes.

2. In combination, a receiver, a multiple of pipes connected with saidreceiver by cones as set forth, an exhaust-blower, and means forconnecting said blower successively with .said pipes, consisting of apipe with oset end having secured thereto a perforate plate withoverlapping ends.

3. In combination, a receiver with discharge-opening, a multiple ofpipes leading into said receiver, means comprising a perforate revolubledisk for successively exhausting the air from said pipes into thereceiver, and means for removing the contents of the receiver,consisting of a revolving plate 44, all substantially as specified.

4. In combination, a receiver, a multiple of pipes leading thereintoeach pipe having a receptacle 25 at its free end, a suction-blower, apipe revolubly mounted on the blower at one end4 and having its otherend offset as set forth, and mechanism for simultaneously revolving theblower and said offset pipe.

Signed at New London, Connecticut, this 16th day of'J une, 1893.

CHARLES J. LUCE.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR B. CALKINs, FRANK H. ALLEN.

